Louisiana Derby upgraded from $600k to $750k

Fair Grounds is finally getting with the times. They have upgraded their marquee race, the Louisiana Derby, from the distance of one and one sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) to one and one eighth miles (9 furlongs). They have also upgraded the purse from $600,000 to $750,000. As if that wasn’t enough they have also changed the date of the race to be five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. In previous years it was seven weeks before the First Saturday in May. The dates of the Lecomte and Risen Star have been changed to coincide with the new date for the Louisiana Derby.

I love this move, and I applaud Fair Grounds for this action. I think that better colts will prep in the Louisiana Derby because of this. In the past I have been hesitant to bet a horse out of the Louisiana Derby because of the short distance and the massive layoff. That is something I will no longer have to worry about. In fact, the race will probably become one of my top choices in terms of which prep is the best. The race who produced two Kentucky Derby winners to date. Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996.

“We’re excited about being the premier racing venue for our nation’s best three-year olds when preparing for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.” said Fair Grounds Vice President and General Manager Eric Halstrom.  “Under the leadership of Fair Grounds President Austin Miller, and with the support of the Louisiana HBPA, our racing staff is embarking on a new historic direction for the entire stakes schedule. Most predominantly, we have a broadened race schedule and event-packed week of activities surrounding the Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks. These changes are sure to focus the racing world’s attention on New Orleans throughout our upcoming season.”

Fair Grounds will begin a meet that includes a $7.24 million, 66-race stakes schedule on November 6. There are expected to be over $350,000 in purses on a daily basis. Some of the other interesting races include the $400,000 Fair Ground Oaks, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap, and the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap. An unnamed raced on December 19 has also been carded. The race is at 9 furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares three-year-olds and up. Obviously, the race has been carded in an attempt to attract Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. It probably wont work, but who can blame them for trying? Zenyatta’s owner are too frightened that she might actually lose a race to put her in against real competition.

One thing is for sure; I’m looking forward to the Fair Grounds meet for the first time in my life.

Bird is the word

It came as no surprise when I saw Summer Bird charge to the lead in the 165th running of the Belmon Stakes. He was my second choice behind Charitable Man, and luckily I had a few saver bets on him that kept me from losing on the whole on Saturday. Most of my bets were variations of 6/2,4,7. Unfortunately I had the right horses, but in the wrong order.

Summer Bird showed us all that he had big things in his future when he finished a close third in the Arkansas Derby. He wasn’t quite ready for the Kentucky Derby, but still finished a hard charging sixth. Everything came together for him in the Belmont Stakes. I am happy to see a small trainer like Tim Ice win a classic race. I was also glad to see Kent Desormeaux get the Belmont “monkey” off his back. He has won the Kentucky Derby 3 times, the Preakness twice, and now the Belmont once.

Summer Bird is likely headed for either the Breeders Cup Classic or the Breeders Cup Turf. Trainer Tim Ice said the key will be to keep him fresh. I think either race will suit him well, but I’d like to find out how he handles synthetic dirt first if he opts for the Classic.

Dunkirk and Charitable Man finished second and fourth respectively. Both are targeting the Travers later this summer. From what I have gathered, Dunkirk is likely to head to the Jim Dandy first. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin listed both the Jim Dandy and Hashell Invitational as possible next starts.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will have two more starts before a run in the Breeders Cup Classic according to trainer Chip Woolley. He wants to keep him against three-year-olds until then. While this is a viable strategy I would try and get a race against older competition before throwing him in the deep end at Santa Anita. Regardless of what happens from here on out, he has already cemented his place in the history books. This years Triple Crown was unlike any in recent memory, and I can’t wait for next year. I’m already counting the days.

Test of Champions draws nigh

The Belmont Stakes is truly a Test of Champions; not only for horses but for handicappers too. Several factors play a role in finding a winner in the third jewel of the Triple Crown. Most important for me is finding a horse who is bred to run all day and could be coming into his best race. Pedigree is also important to a certain extent. In some cases the fresh horses will run best. This year Mine That Bird and Flying Private will be the only ones to have participated in all three Triple Crown races.

The 1 1/2 distance is tricky to figure out, because most colts have never been that far and will never go that far ever again. Pedigree only goes so far and can sometimes be put to the wayside in cases like Musket Man. In terms of pedigree I think Chocolate Candy is bred to run all day. He is a son of of Candy Ride who went 1:59 flat for 10 furlongs when he won the Pacific Classic over Medaglia d’Oro. His damsire is Seattle Slew, who won the Triple Crown in 1977. He recently worked six furlongs in 1:13.47 with Garrett Gomez in the irons. I think he is set to run a career best, and I wish his owner, Jenny Craig, the best of luck. However it is a bit ironic her colt is named Chocolate Candy since she made her fortune from weight loss products.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Arkansas Derby third place finisher Summer Bird are both sons of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. Summer Bird was putting in a nice run late in the Kentucky Derby and needed the experience. He has proved he can handle the surface and should appreciate the extra distance. If he improves he could find himself in the winners circle. Mine That Bird removed all doubt with his second place finish in the Preakness, but could be getting tired at this point. Only two horses this decade, Point Given and Afleet Alex, have won the Belmont Stakes after racing in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Racing three times in 35 days certainly takes a toll.

Charitable Man is a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid. That tells me he wont have a problem with the distance. He is 3 for 3 over dirt surfaces, and won the Grade 2 Futurity and Peter Pan over the Belmont surface. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin took the Belmont in 2006 with Jazil, and says this colt is one of five best three year olds in the country. He is going to have to put his  money where his mouth is in the Belmont Stakes; no one will be surprised if he wins.

After running poorly in the Kentucky Derby, Todd Pletcher’s Dunkirk is expected to return to contest the Test of Champions. His closing style  could benefit him, but I am perplexed as to why he ran so poorly in the Kentucky Derby. I’ve heard from people close to the barn that he had lost weight and wasn’t comfortable Churchill Downs. If that was the case and he is back to his old self at Belmont it could all be over but the shouting. I can see him romping home or running up track.

Federico Tesio Stakes winner Miner’s Escape is probable along with Mr. Hot Stuff, Flying Private, and Luv Gov.

Alexandra the Great

I can’t say I’m surprised. While I tried to beat Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, I did have a feeling she would win. I knew she was the best horse, but I was trying to pick up a trifecta that I would have to sign for. Congratulations to Jess Jackson and the connections for taking the Preakness. I hope they decide to sit out of the Belmont. They should give her a good rest and make the Travers and Ladies Classic the main targets for the rest of the year; or atleast that is what I would do.

I told my dad before the race that if Mine That Bird wins, I’ll never bet another race as long as I live. He didn’t quite win, but he did win me over with a second place performance. I guess his Kentucky Derby win wasn’t a fluke after all. I’m eager to see how he runs in the Belmont Stakes. I also expect good things from the other bird (Summer Bird). He was putting in a good run towards the end of the Kentucky Derby and he needed the experience.

Watching Rachel Alexandra made me think about some of the great fillies of all time. Two names that come to mind are Winning Colors and Personal Ensign. Both were great in their own right. Winning Colors went wire to wire in the Kentucky Derby, and Personal Ensign also bested the opposite sex when she won the Whitney Handicap. The two met in the 1988 Breeders Cup Distaff. I won’t ruin the finish for you, but lets just say this is one of the best races I have ever seen. The video is below.

Papa Clem victorious in Preakness

With a powerful run up the middle of the track, Gary Stute’s  star colt Papa Clem claimed the second leg of the Triple Crown with ace jockey Rafael Bejarano in the irons. The Preakness was Papa Clem’s second Grade I win, and the first time Bejarano has won a Triple Crown race. Papa Clem’s sire, Smart Strike, has sired 2 of the last 3 Preakness winners.

Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra was sent off the heavy favorite at 1-1, but was no match late in the race. Perhaps the two weeks rest caused her demise? Regardless, she is still an excellent runner and will win many more races before her time on the track comes to an end.

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I think its going to go something like that. I’m probably wrong, but what the hell. I’m ready to watch the race.

This is one of the most evenly matched fields I have seen in a long time.  I won’t be surprised regardless of who wins. I’m a bit worried about jumping off the Friesan Fire bandwagon after he worked :58 and change, but hopefully I won’t come to regret it. In the end, I felt like the Kentucky Derby was a good race to watch. I’m glad I stuck with my gut decision and didn’t invest too much. There is no way I could have come up with Mine That Bird.

This one isn’t as bad, and it can be hit. However, I don’t recommend investing too much. The value is probably in the Pick 3’s and 4’s. Use many horses in the Preakness and hope for a bomb. Good luck!

Mine That Bird en route to Pimlico

It has finally sunk in; Mine That Bird is the 2009 winner of the Kentucky Derby. As hard as I find that to believe, it was not a dream, he actually did it. His 6 3/4 margin of victory was the largest since Assault won the Triple Crown in 1946. His trainer, Bennie “Chip” Wooley, is determined to prove that the win was not a fluke. Driving his Ford F-450 Lariat, with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa riding shotgun, Wooley began the 10 hour drive from Churchill Downs to Pimlico Race Course.

“I have about 115 gallons and hauling the trailer I get about 8 ½ miles a gallon,” Woolley said. “This will be about like our first day coming here when we went from El Paso on Lone Star Park (in suburban Dallas). We won’t need to stop for gas. When we stop to eat, I’ll open the top of the window and let him look out and take things in. He’s a good shipper. Nothing bothers him.”

As you can see in the picture above, Bob Baffert rode his stable pony Leo to watch Wooley load up Mine That Bird.I don’t know why, but that picture makes me laugh.

“I just want to see how this is done,” Baffert said with a laugh.

One part of me wants to root for Mine That Bird, but another does not. On one side you have the cowboy trainer who defied all odds to win the Kentucky Derby, but on the other you have an owner who plotted to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness. To be the best you have to beat the best, and attempting to keep the filly out of the race was just down right wrong. They claim that they just want their jockey back, but losing a jockey is just a fact of life. Mike Smith has been named the backup rider and is more than capable of getting the job done. I would prefer him to Borel if it werent for the fact that Borel rode him to his win in the Kentucky Derby. Regardless of the circumstances, I can’t wait to watch the Preakness on Saturday.

Three-Year-Olds Scatter

The Kentucky Derby is finally behind us, and the connections of many prominent horses have decided where their stars will be headed next. Let’s take look.

General Quarters- Tom McCarthy has indicated that is highly probable that his next start will come in the Preakness. This is a good move, because he tends to run better after having a bad race.

Musket Man- After finishing a close third in the Kentucky Derby, he is headed to the Preakness Stakes. He will not race in the Belmont Stakes. The main goal for him this summer is going to be the Haskell Invitational.

I Want Revenge- Sadly, he is injured and will be sidelined for the rest of the year. I wish him a speedy recovery!

Mr. Fantasy- The E. Dubai colt is skipping the Preakness in favor of the Metropolitan Mile. His value as a stallion prospect will sky rocket if he can win that race. The Woody Stephens has also been mentioned as a possibility.

Join In The Dance- Co-owner Reagan Swinbank informed he that this colt is headed to the Northern Dancer at Churchill Downs. I think the distance will suit him well and he should be tough.

Papa Clem- After running great in the Kentucky Derby, he is Preakness bound.

Mine That Bird- The shocking winner of the Kentucky Derby will seek to take the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Racecourse.

Rachel Alexandra- The Acorn was mentioned as the target prior to her sale to Stonestreet, but I have a feeling she is headed to the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.

Summer Bird- I believe the connections are targeting the Belmont Stakes, but I’m not for sure.

Desert Party- Will undergo surgery for a displaced chip.

Big Drama- He was disqualified from first last out in the Swale Stakes, and is now headed for the Preakness.

Quality Road- I have heard that the Florida Derby winner might be able to make the Belmont Stakes if training continues to go smoothly.

West Side Bernie- Has been purchased by Godolphin and will be heading to Dubai soon.

Almost Immortal, Part I

Spectacular Bid (1979)- This horse is one of the greatest to step on the track. He won 26 of 30 races over his career and collected a then record $2,781,607. He counts Santa Anita Handicap, and the Strub series among his most impressive wins. After winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, he lost in the Belmont after a freak accident in the paddock in which he stepped on a safety pin. Some also question the ride from jockey Ronnie Franklin. He lost the mount, and Bill Shoemaker rode Spectacular Bid for the rest of his career. Shoemaker says Spectacular Bid is the best horse he ever rode.

Pleasant Colony (1981)- Perhaps more notable for his accomplishments as a sire, this one finished third in the Belmont Stakes. He would go on to win the Woodward after his Triple Crown attempt. He sired 5 champions, including Pleasant Tap and Pleasantly Perfect.

Alysheba (1987)- This one had a less than spectacular 2 year old season and ended up in the Kentucky Derby with only one victory. He won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but ran a dull 4th in the Belmont after racing without Lasix which was banned in New York at the time. He would go on to be a very successful older horse. His major wins include the Santa Anita Handicap, Woodward, and Breeder’s Cup Classic.

Sunday Silence (1989)- Perhaps one of the most balanced horses of all time. Not only was he amazing on the track, but he was Japan’s leading sire for many years. His stretch duel with Easy Goer in the Preakness is the favorite race of many fans. After beating Easy Goer twice, he was crushed by his foe in the Belmont. Sunday Silence would have the last laugh, defeating Easy Goer in what shaped up as another dramatic finish in the Breeders Cup Classic.

Silver Charm (1997)- I can remember Gary Stevens saying how let down he was when this horse didn’t win the Triple Crown. He also said this was the best horse he ever rode if I recall correctly. This horse was Bob Baffert’s first Kentucky Derby winner. After impressive victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown he finished second in the Belmont. He would go on to win the Clark Handicap, Kentucky Cup Classic, and Dubai World Cup. He now stands at stud in Japan.

Kentucky Derby Recap

I could use several words to describe how I felt after the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby.Some of those descriptors are shocked, stunned, and astounded. How could a geldng who finished off the board in the Sunland Derby with a career high BSF of 81 power home by 6 3/4 lengths in the prestigious and coveted Kentucky Derby? The answer is quite simple. I don’t know; and I don’t think anyone else knows either.

Mine That Bird, ridden by Calvin Borel, skimmed the rail the whole way and came with a powerful run late in the race. When I saw him charging through on the rail, I was thinking “who the hell is that?!”. Even Tom Durkin had to do a double take when he first caught sight of the gelding. Pioneerof The Nile put in a great run to finish second and really won me over. I wont doubt him any longer.

Trainer Chip Wooley didn’t seem too happy after the race. Perhaps it was because his horse had been dismissed? If that is the reason, what was he expecting? I know if I were in his shoes I’d be crying tears of joy, and I think just about anyone else would too.

It almost seems as if there wasn’t a Kentucky Derby this year. Congratulations to the connections, but I doubt this gelding will ever win another major race again. From what  I have heard, they will continue onward to the Preakness.

Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra earned a BSF of 108, while the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird registered a 105. When was the last time the Kentucky Oaks winner got a higher BSF than the Kentucky Derby winner? That amazes me. Rachel Alexandra would’ve opened up on this bunch. I really hope the connections consider a run in the Preakness of Belmont Stakes.

One of the biggest things I will take away from this Kentucky Derby is not to overplay pedigree. I threw out Musket Man due to his sire, Yonaguska, and he was still able to finish third. There is an old saying I heard long ago; fast is fast. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let me know.

Bring on the Preakness.

I Want Revenge scratches from Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs officials confirmed trainer Jeff Mullins has scratched I Want Revenge from the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). A press conference will be held at 9 a.m. (Blood Horse)

This thing is now wide open. I don’t have time to write much because I’m headed to the track right now, but this sure is a shame. Click here to read more.

Good luck with your wagering today!

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